Failure in Afghanistan to fuel terror in West: Nicholson

KABUL (Pajhwok): NATO has to win the war against insurgents in Afghanistan for security in the Western world, theResolute Support Mission (RS) commander said on Saturday.

At an even in Kabul marking the sacrifices of Afghan and foreign soldiers, Gen. John Nicholson said failure in Afghanistan would embolden extremist groups in the West.

Nicholson said they should and would defeat the insurgents to safeguard their own homeland. “If we fail in Afghanistan, we will invite terror attacks on our homelands. Failure will unleash millions of migrants out of this region and the rest of the world.

“Failure will embolden terrorists and jihadists globally to include those already inside our own countries. That is why we are here and that is why we must win,” added Nicholson.

The sacrifices of the Afghan and foreign soldiers injured in the war against insurgents were appreciated by the NATO commander.

“The country has a right to rely on us and you. If we sacrifice our lives for the country, that is still not enough,” remarked Nasir Ahmad, a former Afghan National Army officer.

Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani also acknowledged the bravery of the Afghan forces in defending their homeland. “I thank our new generation for the sacrifices they make…” said Ghani.

Nicholson remarks on defeating insurgents come days after President Donald Trump said he had inherited a mess in Afghanistan and that announcing his strategy war is a big decision for him.